Church forests in Ethiopia are vital to preserving biodiversity, mitigating climate change, conserving soil, and the protection of indigenous knowledge systems. Despite, these church forests are facing extreme threats from anthropogenic disturbances. Linking these sacred places with science is important to manage actively. Hence, the present study was aimed to examine the vegetation ecology of selected church forests and ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in West Gojjam zone, Northwestern Ethiopia. A total of 26 church forests were selected using stratified random sampling based on agroecology, elevation, size, and proximity to population centers to study vegetation ecology. Vegetation data were collected along Gentry transects, with 20 m x 20 m (400 m²) plots for matured trees diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 2.5 cm and height > 2.5 m), 5 m x 5 m (25 m²) subplots for saplings, and 1 m x 1 m (1 m²) subplots for seedlings. Soil samples were collected from each church forest, outside church forest and eucalyptus plantations to analyse soil physico-chemical properties. Soil samples were homogenized, followed by nutrient extraction and quantification. To assess the influence of various factors on woody species composition, soil nutrient dynamics, and aboveground biomass (AGB), both ANOVA and linear regression analyses were performed. All statistical analyses were conducted using JMP 17 (SAS Institute Inc.). Ethnobotanical data were also collected from three districts (selected based on agroecology) of the West Gojjam zone. Informants were selected through both purposive and random sampling methods. Ethnobotanical data was analyzed using quantitative and qualitative ethnobotanical parameters. A total of 111 woody species were documented from 26 church forests, of which 82.88% were indigenous, 15.32% exotic, and 1.8% endemic. The most dominant family was Fabaceae. The average density of woody species with DBH ≥ 2.5 cm and height > 2.5 m was 840 individuals’ ha-1. Eucalyptus camaldulensis was the most dominant frequented species in church forests accounted for 72.57% individuals’ ha-1. Ficus vasta had the highest basal area. Human disturbances such as expansion of agriculture, grazing, and grave construction in church forest had considerably influence on forest structure and species diversity. Additionally, edge effects endorsed the invasion of exotic species and contributed to reduced soil fertility within the forest. Church forests had highest carbon stocks, with a mean AGB of 31.97 ± 3.31 tons ha⁻¹ and a corresponding CO₂ equivalent of 97.15 ± 10.47 tons ha⁻¹, highlighting their notable potential for climate change mitigation. The xvii study area experienced an average human disturbance of 24.35%, reflecting the impact of human activities on the church forests. Woody species abundance was highest in the inner (38.9%) and middle (39.0%) zones but lowest at the edges (22.1%), reflecting greater regeneration and stability in forest interiors. Soil analysis showed that church forest soils were richer in organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus compared to soils outside church forests and in eucalyptus plantations, where widespread soil degradation was observed due to allelopathic effects. Similarly, ethnobotanical investigations were conducted in this zone and documented 97 medicinal plant species that were used to treat human ailments and 53 species that were employed in ethnoveterinary practices. These findings highlight the dual role of church forests as biodiversity hotspots and repositories of traditional medicinal knowledge. Effective conservation strategies are essential to mitigate human disturbances, control exotic species, maintain soil fertility, and safeguard both ecological and cultural values